By RICHARD WEIZEL
Staff writer ConnPost
Article Launched: 10/27/2008 11:30:55 PM EDT
Stratford police union votes 'no confidence' in chief - Topix
STRATFORD -- The Stratford Police Union voted overwhelmingly Monday to issue a "Vote of No Confidence" in Police Chief John Buturla, citing the chief's "anti-union campaign" that has included leading a "politically motivated" internal investigation that resulted last week in the demotion and three-month suspension without pay of Union President Capt. Joseph McNeil.
The local bargaining unit claims the investigation was "not objective or free of political influence," and that it continues to show "the police chief's pattern and practice of ignoring agreements between the Town of Stratford and Police Union Local 407."
The 83-10 vote comes just days after the town released findings of a report conducted by Buturla and other town officials that concluded McNeil and former president Sgt. Shawn Farmer, who resigned in May, acted together earlier this year in releasing to council members and the media the personal background file of former police applicant Christian Miron, the brother of Mayor James. R. Miron.
Leaders of Local Police Union 407, Council 15, AFSCME, said Monday only five union members eligible to vote did not show up Monday, and that several of them were absent due to illness.
Wearing T-shirts with the slogan "Vote No (Confidence) Or You Could be the next Joe," union leaders like Sgt. Victor Velez, said morale in the department is "the worst its ever been. We have wanted to work with our chief, but he has shown he is more interested in politics than keeping union agreements.
"The administration has exercised poor judgement in the selection process to hire the mayor's brother and continued a subjective internal investigation culminating in an unjust punishment," the union states in its "no confidence" statement.
While the town report issued by Chief Administrative Officer Suzanne McCauley does not speculate on the officers' motives for releasing the files, some in the department have said they believe Miron was not qualified and was being fast-tracked for a job because he was the mayor's brother.
Miron, 29, was issued a conditional offer of employment in March even though the information leaked from his application raised questions as to whether he is fit for police work. The background file showed he scored well on the written and oral exams, and that a psychologist who interviewed Miron recommended he be hired, but with "strong reservations.''
Miron, however, was not among the 14 rookies hired by the department in July.
"He [Buturla] continues to violate both verbal and written agreements established by prior administrations, knowingly ignores prior established practices, intentionally delayed promotions, and has outsourced Local 407 work, the union states. "The police chief has failed to insulate the department from politics and has allowed politics into his decision making process."
Buturla, the brother of Town Attorney Richard Buturla, another Miron appointee, issued a swift response to the union's vote.
"I understand the rank and file's emotional reaction to the demotion and suspension of a very popular and well-liked officer and their conducting a no-confidence vote as part of their support for a fellow union member," Buturla states.
"However, all members of the Stratford Police Department, even well-liked ones, are held to the highest standards and are required to comply with departmental and town policies," Buturla said in the statement. "Joseph McNeil not only violated the policies of the town and the department on confidentiality and integrity, but also, and equally serious, he violated an order to fully and truthfully cooperate in the investigation. They [officers] have witnessed an internal investigation relating to this matter and an ongoing criminal investigation."
McNeil on Monday continued to steadfastly deny any involvement in the release of Christian Miron's personal background file to anyone inside or outside the department, while admitting he did view the report and make copies of it that he claims he tore up.